Molla



Nov. 8, 1960 P. MOLLA CONTINUOUS AUTOMATIC MACHINE FOR PROVIDING APERMANENT CURVATURE ON THE EXTREME EDGES 0F COVERS FOR BOOK MATCHES WITHSNAP CLOSURE Filed April 26, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 8, 1960 MOLLACONTINUOUS AUTOMATIC MACHINE FOR PROVIDING A PERMANENT CURVATURE ON THEEXTREME EDGES 0F COVERS FOR BOOK MATCHES WITH SNAP CLOSURE Filed April26, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 NGE Nov. 8, 1960 P. MOLLA 7 2,958,901CONTINUOUS AUTOMATIC MACHINE FOR PROVIDING A PERMANENT CURVATURE ON THEEXTREME EDGES OF COVERS FOR BOOK MATCHES WITH SNAP CLOSURE 4Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 26, 1955 FIG.3.

Nov. 8, 1960 P. MOLLA 2,958,901

CONTINUOUS AUTOMATIC MACHINE FOR PROVIDING A PERMANENT CURVATURE ON THEEXTREME EDGES OF COVERS FOR BOOK MATCHES WITH SNAP CLOSURE Filed April26, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent Ofiice 2,958,901 PatentedNov. 8, 1960 CONTINUOUS AUTOMATIC MACHINE FOR PRO- VmING A PERMANENTCURVATURE ON THE EXTREMIE EDGES OF COVERS FOR BOOK MATCHES WITH SNAPCLOSURE Pietro Molla, Pontenuovo di Magenta, Italy, assignor toS.A.F.F.A. Societa per Azioni Fabbriche Fiammiferi ed Afiini, Milan,Italy, a corporation of Italy Filed Apr. 26, 1955, Ser. No. 504,056

Claims priority, application Italy Oct. 2, 1954 7 Claims. (Cl. 18--19)It is known that some types of book matches have a rectangular cardboardcover with one or both extreme edges permanently curved so as to providean easy and safe closure of the booklets, which is obtained by a lightpressure applied by the fingers on the external faces of the booklet.

Such types of booklets are, for example, those described in the US.Patent No. 2,470,523 filed on November 15, 1944 and issued on May 17,1949 to Giuseppe Russo, in which the cover is made up of a rectangle ofcardboard having both extreme edges curved, said cover being fixed atits central portion to the base of the matches so as to form a straightback from which depart two free edges of the cover which, comingtogether with their respective extremities curved above the heads of thematches, form the snap closure by means of the insertion of the edgewith the smaller radius of curvature into the edge with the largerradius of curvature.

In this case the covering for the formation of the snap closurecomprises a rectangle of thin cardboard having both extreme edgespre-curved, each according to a pre determined radius of curvature.

In order that such types of coverings from a practical viewpoint give anefiicient snap closure it is necessary that the curved portions havesuitable characteristics as to stability, elasticity and resistance torepeated use. This is ensured by using for the manufacture of the coversa thin cardboard having suitable properties and subjecting the extremeedges to a special treatment which comprises absorption of syntheticresin, and their drying and curving in a hot die so as to polymerise theresin. After this treatment, the extreme edges of the covers remainpermanently curved and have also the characteristics of elasticity andresistance to continual use such as are requested for a satisfactoryclosure.

It is an object of this invention to provide a continuous machine whicheifects the curvature of either one or both of the extreme edges of bookmatch covers of the above mentioned type, starting with rectangles ofthin cardboard which have been previously printed, with the usualroughened surface, and having the edges or edge, according to the casein question, already resin treated. The automatic machine for thepermanent curvature of the extreme edges of the match covers having snapclosure according to the invention is characterized in that it comprisesa continuous succession of curving dies, which are mounted on the linksof a continuous conveyor chain, a plurality of heater elements. throughwhich pass the dies on the upper and lower section of the die carrierconveyor to efiect the polymerization of the res-in with which one orboth extreme edges of the covers are imbibed, a pick up and insertiondevice for placing the cardboards in the dies, a mechanical pincer forremoval of the cardboards from the dies after polymerization of theresin and a plurality of ejectors for the cardboards.

It is another object of this invent-ion to provide in the.

machine an orderly system of off-loading of the cardboards with twocurved edges, so as to arrange them, as to occupy the least possiblespace, within special rectangular boxes which are provided to be latermounted directly as a loading hopper on the machines which carry out thejoining of the covers with the matches for the formation of the finishedbook matches with two curved edges.

For the covers which have only one edge curved it is provided, dependingon the working method, either the off-loading with hand collection, oran ofif-loading into special boxes.

The basic operations carried out by the machine for the curvature ofboth edges of the cardboards are as follows:

Lifting up by means of a pneumatic suction device a cardboard from thepack of stacked cardboards which are hand loaded into the horizontalhopper.

Release of the cardboard from the suction device and its turning overhorizontally, which is done by an interception element.

Feed forward of the cardboard by means of pushers until it is above oneof the dies on the continuous die holder conveyor.

Centering up of the cardboards above the die by means of limit guides.

Insertion of the cardboard into the die and simultaneous curving of bothedge-s by means of a pressure device which has double action springloading.

Conveyance of the cardboard, held in the die by the particular form ofthe die and by other means, along the polymerization path where specialheater elements maintain at a predetermined temperature the curvatureeffecting extremity of the dies.

Removal of the cardboard from the die by means of a mechanical pincer,after the polymerization of the resin has taken place.

Feed forward of the cardboard or cover which is now finished, into aspecial interchangeable box mounted on a surface which automatically hasa rhythmical sideways motion with the purpose of arranging thecardboards alternately, thus allowing maximum use of the space of thesmall box. The loaded boxes can thus be transferred to the next step ofmanufacture where they act as a loading hopper on the machine whichmakes up the finished booklets of matches.

In the case where the machine has to be used for production of coverswith only one curved edge, it is very easy to change the machine over tothis by substitution of one curving die for another.

The invention is described in one embodiment thereof which is givenpurely as an example and in no Way limiting it, with reference to theattached drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of the whole of the machine according tothe invention, in side elevation and partially in section;

Fig. 1a is an enlarged view of the release valve fitted to the pneumaticdevice for lifting up the cardboards from the loading hopper;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view, as seen in the section along theline' AA of Fig. .l, of the presser-curver device which inserts thesmall cardboard into the die and the curvature of its edges;

plan view of the machine Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of themechanism which determines the movement of the presser-curver deviceshown in Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a cross section through the line B-B' in Fig.

It is apparent that such a machine can easily be arranged or set up forworking one or more series at a time. In the form described it is setfor one series at a time, that is it comprises that single series ofdevices necessary for each of the operations above described. But tohave a greater production it is possible to build the machine so as togive a multiple of the production by placing in parallel two or moreseries of identical devices which comprise the machine as a whole, thewhole being worked simultaneously off one drive unit.

The description that follows leaves out all those parts of the machine,such as motors, main transmissions, starter devices, stopping devices,and electrical circuits etc., which are commonly found on all modernmachines and which have a merely auxiliary function with regard to thedevices which make up this invention.

The machine essentially comprises (Fig. 1) a continuous succession ofdies (1) carried by jointed elements or links of a continuous conveyorchain 2, along whose path are carried out the steps of the curvingprocedure of the extreme ends of the small rectangular cardboards whichare to be used as the covers for the book matches. These steps areessentially: centering of a small cardboard above the die, pressing inthe die with resultant curvature of the edges, polymerization of theresin while the cardboard is held in the die as it moves along theheater section and extraction of the finished cover.

The conveyor chain carrying the dies 2, mounted on special profiledsprockets 58 and 59, moves forward with an intermittent motion. In factthe sprocket wheel 59, which is the driving sprocket, is driven througha cylindrical toothed wheel 60 keyed onto the same shaft 61, from thedivider disc 62 which meshes with the the cylindrical toothed wheel 60.The divider disc 62 receives intermittent impulses from the cylindricalcam 63 with a spiral on it, mounted on the shaft 88, which in its turntakes its motion from the motor of the machine through a chain 64, thesprocket 65 keyed to the shaft 66 and the bevelled gear couple 67.

The rectangular cardboards pre-treated with resin, (as well as havingbeen already printed and fitted with rough match striker strips), areloaded by hand in a vertical side by side position into the horizontalloading hopper 3, in which the counterbalance device 4 keeps the row ofcardboards against the outlet mouth of the hopper 3.

Here the small stops 5 prevent the cardboards from escaping of their ownaccord from the hopper mouth.

A suction operated device (Figs. 1 and 2), which is essentially made upof a pair of vacuum suckers 66' connected to a tube 7 which has one endterminating at the suction pump 8, takes the cardboards rhythmically,one at a time, from the hopper 3, the resistance of the stops 5 beingovercome by the suctional 'effect on the cardboards.

The suction device for the lifting of the cardboards carries out a toand fro motion, as the tube 7 on which are fitted the sucker ends 6-6'is carried by the supports 9-9 which are connected by means of levers1010 to the grooved cams 1111' keyed to the shaft 66 already described,which causes the to and fro motion of the suckers 6. For this reason thetube 7 is connected to the pump 8 by means of a flexible hose 12.

Each time that the pneumatic device taking up the cardboards shims thesurface of a cardboard a, in the mouth of the suckers 66' there is apneumatic suction created by the pump 8 which, being controlled throughthe lever 13 of the eccentric 14 mounted and timed on the shaft 15,starts in phase causing in the tube 7 the necessary suction effect.

In the return movement of the pneumatic lifting device, the cardboardadhering to the suckers 66 are intercepted by an interception element16, which is a specially slotted and inclined plate, causing, togetherwith the lessening of vacuum or suction effect in the suckers, thedeparture of the cardboards from the suckers 6-6 and 4 their turningover onto a horizontal plane formed by the two guides 1717'.

The diminishing of the pneumatic suction in the suckers 6-6 at themoment of the cardboard leaving the sucker mouth, is obtained by thegradual opening of the relief valve 18 (Fig. 1a) which is fitted on theback of each of the suckers 6-6, operated by the lever 19 sliding on aninclined plane 20 in the withdrawal phase of the pneumatic device tolift up the cardboards.

Immediately after the cardboard a has been deposited on the horizontalguides 1717, a pair of pushers come into action (21--21') which, havinga rhythmical to and fro motion in step or timed with the pneumatic liftdevice for the cardboards, push the cardboard a until it is above one ofthe dies on the continuous conveyor 2.

The to and fro movement of the feeder pusher 21-21' (Fig. 1) is impartedby the lever 22 operated from the grooved cam 23 which is keyed to theshaft 15 on which is also keyed an eccentric 14 for the movement of thepump 8, already described.

The exact centering of the cardboard a pushed into place by the pushers2121 over the die 1 is obtained by two lateral guides 2424' (Fig. 3) andby the stop or small end of travel plate 25 (Fig, 1), which areadjustable.

At the moment that the cardboard a becomes centered above the die 1, thedie conveyor chain 2 starts a short rest period between two successivemoves forward. It is during this short rest period that the presserdevice 26 effects, during the lowering phase of the vertical alternatingmotion which it carries out, the insertion of the cardboard a into thedie 1 with the necessary curvature of the extreme edges.

The presser device 26 (Fig. 3) is made up of two main parts: a presserfoot 27 fitted to a small spring loaded piston 35 sliding in the body ofthe presser 26 which first starts its action by pressing the cardboard ain the central portion above the die 1 thus holding it firmly inposition, and a pair of articulated arms 36--36 which successivelysliding along the two edges of the cardboard press them forcing theedges to enter into the curved over extremities of the die 1 and toadhere to their rounded shape.

The travel of the small spring loaded piston 35 is sufficiently great toallow the curvature arms 2828' to open, more or less, according to thelength of the die 1 or that is the length of the cardboard a.

During the upwards motion of the presser device 26, the pivoted arms2828', due to the effect of the springs 3737, return to their originalposition; the presser foot 27 does the same, due to the effect of thespring 38.

The vertical up and down motion of the presser device 26 is caused (Fig.4) by the grooved cams 2929' keyed onto the shaft 15 and which by meansof the small rollers 30-60, the levers 31--3-1 and the rods 32-32sliding within the sleeves 33-33', impart to the traverse 34 on which isfitted the presser device 26, the necessary vertical alternating motion.Naturally, when one changes from one size die to another, that is whenone changes the size of cardboard in length, it is necessary to alsochange the cams 29-29 with'another pair of cams which are suitable forobtaining the necessary travel of the presser device 26.

As soon as the presser device 26 is withdrawn from the die 1 leaving thecardboard inside the die, the continuous conveyor chain 2 (Fig. 1) movesforward one place thus allowing the same presser device 26, in the nextcycle, to effect the insertion of another cardboard into the next die inthe line.

Every die 1 (Fig. 5) is formed of a metallic plate whose extremities3939' are formed in a semi-circle according to the different radii ofcurvature, corresponding to the radii of curvature which one wishes togive to the two edges of the cover a. The curved semi-circular part ofthe two extremities 39.39 is extended in the upper.

part ofthe die for a short straight section parallel to the plane of thedie so as to hold with greater security the cardboard during the lowerrun of the continuous conveyor chain 2 when the dies are overturned. Inthe central part of every die are fitted, on the side opposite to thedirection of feed motion, two studs or 7 pins 40-40 which serve to keepthe cardboards centered in the die during the motion forward of thechain 2 and in particular to stop the cardboard from slipping out of thedie and falling to the ground when it is in a vertical position at thatpoint on the chain conveyor 2 Where the removal of one of the cardboardsoccurs by the pincers.

At the other point on path of the conveyor chain 2 (Fig. 1), where thecardboards in the dies find themselves in a vertical position a specialspring described later prevents them from falling out of the dies.

Each die 1 (Fig. 5) is fitted to an element of the chain conveyor 2 by'means of two screws 116-116 countersunk in grooves 117-117 havingrectangular section which allow the point of one of the fingers of thepincer extracting the cardboards from the dies to penetrate between thedie 1 and the under side of the cardboard a.

The polymerization of the resin treated edges of the cardboards isobtained by heat from suitable heater elements. In the upper section oftravel of the continuous conveyor chain 2 the dies pass between heaterelements 41-41 (Fig. 5) which are shaped so as to embrace completely thecurved portions 39-39 of the dies 1. In the lower section of travel ofthe continuous conveyor chain 2, the heater elements 42-42 (Fig. 5) areof rectangular section and against these rub only the extreme edges ofthe dies 1. The sole reason for this is to allow the die conveyor 2 tobe free to form easily the catenary on the lower section, but naturallyit is possible to vary in any manner the form of the heater elementswithout departing from the scope of the invention.

The heater elements 41-41 and 42-42" are fitted to the frame of themachine by means of brackets 105- 105' which have holes 106-106 andfixing screws 107-107 so as to allow for adjustment in width of theheater elements 41-41 and 42-42 so as to fit them to the length of thedies being used.

The heater elements 41-41 and 42-42 use tubular electrical resistances43-43 as a source. of heat. The resistances 43, that is those fixed toone side of the machine, are fed independently from the resistances 43so as to exclude one or the other when the machine is being used forproduction of covers for book matches having only one edge curved.

The total length of the heating section (Fig. 1) works for such time asis needed to complete the polymerization of the resin in relation to thetemperature applied and to the speed of movement of the dies.

For control and automatic regulation of the temperature for the heaterelements (or of the dies) on each side of the machine, a normalthermo-regulator apparatus 44 is used, having minimum and maximumcurrent contacts.

In order to assure the stability of the cardboards in the dies and theiradherence to the curved portion of the dies, apart from the particularform ofthe cuzrved extremities 39 and 39' of the dies and the studs orpins 40-40 which have been already described, on the polymerizationsection the following extra arrangements have been provided:

A continuous rectangular cross-section bar 45 (Fig. 5) placed lengthwisealong the center line of the dies 1 in the upper heater section, ata-distance from the dies which is little more than the thickness of thecardboards, so as to stop the central part of the cardboard raisingitself due to heat effect, thus creating the eventual drawing back orescape of the curved edges from the curving extremities 39-39 of thedies.

One or more spreading devices 46 (Fig. 5 and Fig. 2) placed on the uppertravel of the conveyor 2 and fixed to the small bar 45 above described,made up of hinged arms which are spring loaded 47-47 on whose ends aresmall circular profiles bars 48-48 which assure the adherence of theedges of the cardboards against the semicircular heated surfaces at theextremities 39-39 of the dies.

The spring plates 49 and 50 fitted to the bar 45 which is placed on thecenter line of the succession of dies 1. in the section where thecontinuous conveyor chain 2 follows into the curve while passing fromthe topto the lower portion of the travel. The spring 50 being longenough to embrace the dies during the whole curved section of the travelis also fixed at the bottom, at its other end, to the frame of themachine.

The springs 49 and 50 prevent the cardboards falling out of the dies tothe ground when these get into the vertical position since the smallstop studs 40 and 40' are on this curve section, in the upper part ofthe dies.

The spring plates 51 and 51' (Figs. 1 and S), which are suitably fittedto the end of the frame of the machine, are placed parallel against thebottom of the dies 1 so as to hold the cardboards a in position and thusstop eventual escape and falling away.

When a die which is loaded (Fig. 1), reaches the vertical position onthe ofi-loading side, the mechanical pincer 52 lowers until the end ofone finger enters the grooves 117-117 in the die 1. Pincer 52, thentakes hold of the cardboard a, extracting it from the die 1, Withdrawingit in the opposite direction to the stops 40 and lifts it verticallyuntil the series of pushers 53 (Figs. 1 and 2) come into action. At thismoment the pincer 52 starts to open leaving the cardboard free so thatit can be collected by the ejector pushers 53 and pushed forward intothe vertical lying down position within the channel 55 where thecardboards pushed one against the other, are made to enter a specialinterchangeable collector box 56. In order however to collect the coverswith curved or bent over edges on an orderly basis and so as to exploitto a maximum the space available in the box 56, the off-loading table57, on which is mounted the channel 55 and the box 56, makes arhythmical sideways movement with respect to the direction of travel ofthe cardboards so that at each move forward of the pushers 53, thecovers arrange themselves alternatively, at the two ends, with thecurved edges placed one against the other, in such a way that eachcurved edge is in contact with the flat part of the preceding orfollowing cover.

The mechanical pincer 52, which is fitted with forked arms so as to givea better hold on the cardboards is made (Fig. l) of a fixed arm 68 and amobile arm 69. The pincer 52 is fitted to the central portion of thetraverse 70 which is mounted at its two ends (Fig. 2) on the liftingrods 71-71. These rods 71-71 sliding within the respective sleeves 72-72fixed to the frame of the machine are connected at their lower ends to alever 73 actuated by a grooved cam 74 which is keyed to the shaft 66,and carry out a rythmical up and down motion carrying with them thetraverse 70 on which is fitted the mechanical pincer 52.

The opening and closing of the pincer 52, whose fingers 68 and 69 tendto keep closed due to the spring 75 (Fig. 1) happen during the up anddown motion of the traverse 70 by means of the extension 76 of themobile arm 69. This extension 76 carries at its end a smaller roller 77,which, running on the fixed inclined surface 78 during the step of theupward motion of the traverse 70, causes the opening of the fingers ofthe arms 68-69.

'In the lowering phase of the traverse '70, with the running of theroller 77 on the inclined surface 78, the spring 75, which is a returnaction spring, causes the gradual closure of the arms 68-69 but, at themoment at which the pincers 52 have to take hold of the card board a,that is during the last'part of the descent section, the roller 77 findsitself rolling on a more sharp portion of the cam 79 which forces thearms 68-69 to move 7 in the instant in which these are placed before andafter the cardboard a and then close fast on the cardboard. The cam 79is semi fixed, that is it can partially turn in either direction,Whether clockwise or counter clockwise, and thus remains immobile duringthe descent step of the roller 77 forcing it to follow its shape.

In the upwards step, however, when the roller 77 is again in contactwith the cam 79 it manages to overcome the tensional force of the spring8%) and causes the cam 79 to turn enough to pass it undisturbed,without, however, interrupting the gripping action of the fingers orarms on the Cardboard a.

Thereafter the roller 77 has to again return up the inclined surface 78and it is, in fact, in that moment when the gripping fingers or arms 6i-69 open, leaving the cardboard a free, to be collected by the pushers53 which have timely arrived after their horizontal to and fro motion.

The pushers 53 at that point where they come into contact with thecardboards, are bent at right angles and the horizontal section 53,which is bevelled to facilitate their insertion under the cardboards,penetrates into a special hollow 31 cut into the bottom of the channel55 in which the cardboards are collected and directed to the box 56.

The pushers 53 are fitted to the traverse 82 (Fig. 2) which slides onthe guides 8383'. The to and fro motion is given to the traverse 82 bythe play of the levers 84-85 and 8485' (Figs. 1 and 2) which areactuated respectively off the grooved cams 86--86' which are keyed onthe shaft 87 in its turn connected to a suitable tranmission and to themotor of the machine. As already explained, the ofi-loading surface 57on which is secured the channel or groove 55 and the collector box 56(Fig. 1) moves rhythmically in a cross direction to the machine so as toallow the staggering of the curved edges for an orderly collection ofthe finished covers. Such an alternating cross motion is obtained due tothe oscillating movement of the lever 39 to whose upper end is attachedthe slide 90 which runs in the guide 91. To the slide 90 is secured theoff-loading surface 57 The lever 89 carries out the oscillating motionwhich causes the cross shift or movement of the surface 57, it beingpinned at the center at 89' and actuated from the other end by a groovedcam 92 which in its turn takes its movement (Fig. 1) from the shaft 88,already described, through a pair of toothed cylindrical wheels or gears93 and 94 and the coupling 108.

However, since the sprocket 93 is mounted idle on the shaft 88, it ispossible, by means of the coupling 108, which is controlled by handthrough the lever 109, to eliminate at will the alternating cross motionof the offloading surface 57 when this motion is not desired, as forexample when the machine is being used for production of book matchcovers which have only one edge curved.

The box 56 can be easily fixed to the oif-loadingsurface 57 and alsoeasily removed from it, causing it to slide within the lateral guides9898' which are secured to the surface 57 by means of the screws 110110'(Fig. 2) which slide inside the hollows 111--111 so as to accommodatethe differences of width of the boxes 56.

The width of the boxes 56 and the insertion channel 55 is determined bythe length of the finished covers and by the amount of the traveleffected by the surface 57 for the arrangement of the curved edges ofthe cards.

The arrangement of the off-set cardboard covers in finished state in thecollector box 56 is clearly shown in Fig. 2.

While only some embodimentsof invention have been shown and described itis obvious that various modifications can be made without departing fromthe scope and the true spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. In an automatic machine for permanently curving and polymerizing aresin treated edge of each of a plura y 70f defo mable membe a e m v blymounte on the mash n s i -co p i a e l i or g plate having a formingedge'of the contour to which the edges of the deformable members are tobe formed, said forming edge being curved over upon said forming plateto form an ,arcuate end member, said edge of said die being heated forheat treating the edges of the deformable members, means mounted on themachine for placing the deformable members into said die, and meansmounted on the machine for pressing an edge of the deformable membersinto said forming edge of' said die, said pressing means comprising apress element for holdingrthe deformable members in said die and an armpivotally mounted on said pressing means ,on one side of said element toextend transversely therefrom for engaging the deformable members withinsaid die and upon movement of said pressing means toward said die beingactuated-outwardly from said element toward said end member therebyforcing the edge of the deformable memberinto saidend member of saiddie.

2. In an automatic machinefor permanently curving and polymerizing aresin ,treated edge of each of a plurality of deformable members, aplurality of dies movably mounted on the machine, each of said diescomprising a metallic forming plate having forming edges of the contourto which the edges of the deformable members are tobeformed, saidforming edges being curved over upon said forming plate to form arcuateend members, said edges of each of said dies being heated for heattreating the edges of the deformable members, means mounted .on themachine for placing the deformable members into said dies, and meansmounted on the machine for pressing the edges of the deformable membersinto said forming edges of said dies, said pressing means comprising apress element for holding the deformable members in said dies anda pairof arms pivotally mounted on said pressing means, one on each side ofsaid element to extend transversely therefrom for engaging thedeformable members within said dies and upon movement of said pressingmeans toward .said dies being actuated outwardly from said elementtoward said end members thereby forcing the edges of the deformablemembers into said end members of said dies.

3. In an automatic machine for permanently curving and polymerizinga-resin treated edgeof each of a plurality of deformable members, aplurality of dies movably mounted on the machine, each of said diescomprising a metallic forming plate having forming edges of the contourto which the edges of the deformable membersare to be formed, saidforming edges being curved over upon said forming plate to form arcuateend members, said edges of each of said dies being heated for heattreating the edges of the deformable members, means mounted on themachine for placing the deformable members into said dies, means mountedon the machine for pressing the edges of the deformable members intosaidforming-edges of said dies said pressingmeans comprising a plunger forholding the deformable members in said dies and a pair of arms pivotallymounted on said pressingmeans, one on each side of said plunger toextend transversely therefrom for engaging the deformable members withinsaid dies and upon movement of said pressing means toward said diesbeing actuated outwardly from said plunger toward said end membersthereby forcing the edges of the deformable members into said endmembers of said vdies, and spring means mounted on said pressing meansfor biasing said arms toward said plunger upon removal of said pressingmeans from said dies.

4. In an automatic machine for permanently curving and polymerizing aresin treated edge of each of a plurality of deformable members,aplurality of dies movably mounted on said machine, each of said diescomprising a metallic forming plate having forming edges of the contourto which the edges of the deformable members are to be formed, saidforming edges being curved over upon said forming plate to formsemi-circular end members, said edges of each of said dies being heatedfor heat treating the edges of the deformable members, means mounted onthe machine for placing the deformable members into said dies, meansmounted on the machine for pressing the edges of the deformable membersinto said forming edges of said dies, said pressing means comprising aplunger spring biased for holding the deformable members in said diesand a pair of arms pivotally mounted on said pressing means, one on eachside of said plunger to extend transversely therefrom for engaging thedeformable members within said dies and upon movement of said pressingmeans toward said dies being actuated outwardly from said plunger towardsaid end members thereby forcing the edges of the deformable membersinto said end members of said dies, and spring means mounted on saidpressing means for biasing said arms toward said plunger upon removal ofsaid pressing means from said dies.

5. In an automatic machine for permanently curving and polymerizing aresin treated edge of each of a plurality of cardboards for book matchcovers fed by a feeding device mounted on said machine comprising aplurality of dies movably mounted on said machine, each of said diescomprising a metallic forming plate having a forming edge of the contourto which one edge of the cardboards is to be formed, said forming edgeof each of said dies being curved over upon said forming plate to forman arcuate end member having a shape corresponding to that of the edgeof the book match covers to be formed, a presser unit mounted on saidmachine comprising a reciprocating housing in which a spring biasedplunger is slidably mounted, said plunger being actuated against itsspring for moving a cardboard from the feeding device into said dies andfor holding the cardboard in said dies, and an arm pivotally mounted onsaid housing transversely to said plunger for engaging the cardboardbetween said plunger and said curved edge of said dies, said arm uponrelative movement of said housing with respect to said plunger towardsaid dies sliding on the cardboard away from said plunger toward saidcurved edge of said dies forcing the edge of the cardboard into saidforming edge of said dies, said arm being spring biased toward saidhousing and being actuated toward said housing upon removal of saidplunger from said dies.

6. In an automatic machine for permanently curving and polymerizing twoopposite resin treated edges of each of a plurality of cardboards forbook match covers fed by a feeding device mounted on said machinecomprising a plurality of dies movably mounted on said machine, each ofsaid dies comprising a metallic forming plate having two oppositeforming edges of the contour to which the two edges of the cardboardsare to be formed, said forming edges of each of said dies being curvedover upon said forming plate to form arcuate end members each having ashape corresponding to that of the edges of the book match covers to beformed, a presser unit mounted on said machine comprising areciprocating housing in which a spring biased plunger is slidablymounted, said plunger being actuated against its spring for moving acardboard from the feeding device into said dies and for holding thecardboard in said dies, and a pair of arms pivotally mounted on saidhousing transversely to and one on each side of said plunger for eachengaging the cardboard between said plunger and one of said curved edgesof said dies, said arms upon relative movement of said housing withrespect to said plunger toward said dies sliding on the cardboard awayfrom said plunger toward said curved edge of the cardboard into saidforming edge of said dies, said arms being spring biased toward saidhousing and being actuated toward said housing upon removal of saidplunger from said dies.

7. The combination set forth in claim 6 wherein said forming edges ofsaid dies have different radii of curvature for forming book matchcovers having edges adapted to be nested.

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